BEREA -- The Browns made it official after practice on Wednesday; Trent Richardson is healthy enough to play, but coach Rob Chudzinski will hold the second year running back out of the preseason game against the Rams on Thursday night in FirstEnergy Stadium.

Safety T.J. Ward is also healthy enough to play but is being held back from the preseason opener. He missed most of last week with a hamstring injury.

Richardson wants to play against the Rams but understands the decision, Chudzinski said. Richardson was kicked in the shin last Thursday, was rested the next two practices and has been used sparingly in practice since returning Monday.

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"Those guys would be available to play normally, but since it's the preseason, we're going to be smart with them," Chudzinski said. "We've been working (Richardson). We have a plan for working him and making sure he gets reps as needed out here in practice and build him to be ready for the beginning of the season."

Jim Brown will be honored during a special ceremony on Oct. 3 when the Browns host the Bills in their only prime time game this year.

Brown boycotted the Ring of Honor ceremony three years ago because he was feuding with then Browns president Mike Holmgren. In May, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam re-hired Brown as a special adviser.

"We are absolutely thrilled to formally honor Jim Brown, the greatest running back in the history of the NFL," Haslam said. "Jim is synonymous with the Cleveland Browns. He has an undeniable place in our history and we look forward to celebrating him appropriately on Oct. 3."

Brown retired in 1966 as the NFL's all-time rushing leader with 12,312 yards gained in nine seasons. He ranks ninth all time and still holds the record for leading the league in rushing eight times.

"When Jimmy Haslam invited me to do this, I was flattered," Brown said. "That night will be about family, about joining together with the city, the region, and the greatest fans in all the NFL, in a celebration of the Cleveland Browns. I'm thrilled about the opportunity."

Brown's 5.22 yards average per carry is an NFL record for running backs. Only quarterback Randall Cunningham (775 carries, 4,928 yards, 6.37) has a higher per carry average.

Kickers will alternate

Kickers Shayne Graham and Brandon Bogotay will alternate kicks Thursday night. Both have kicked well in practice.

"We'll just alternate how they are kicking," Chudzinski said. "Basically, about every other kick. We want to make sure we're getting them both snaps. If one guy is getting longer kicks and one guy is getting shorter kicks, we'll try to balance it out. Generally, we're trying to alternate kickoffs and kicks."

Bogotay is a rookie. Graham is in his 12th season.

Rookie hazing

Rookies Barkevious Mingo, defensive end Armonty Bryant, Bogotay and offensive lineman Martin Wallace had their heads shaved as part of the rookie hazing the Browns go through.

"I know we have some bad barbers in the locker room, based on some of the haircuts I saw," Chudzinski joked. "As long as it's positive and the guys embrace it, I'm all for that and have no problem with that."

Joe Haden, now in his fourth season, was not shorn in when he was a rookie in 2010. He had to pay a steeper price.

"T.J. (Ward) and I were talking about it earlier," Haden said. "We had a bunch of older players like D-Bo (David Bowens). They weren't really worried about that. They just wanted us to take their pads in and then I had to buy the whole defense iPads. So that was a lot worse than getting my hair cut. I would've much rather got a chip out of the side of my head."

Haden could afford iPads for the entire team. He signed a five-year, $50 million contract with $26 million guaranteed as the seventh player taken in the 2010 draft.

The new CBA kicked in in 2011 and since then salaries have been slotted. Jonathan Cooper, a guard picked seventh in 2013, signed a four-year, $14.55 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals.